Abstract: Pipelines are extensively used engineering structures
which convey fluid from one place to another. Most of the time,
pipelines are placed underground and are encumbered by soil weight
and traffic loads. Corrosion of pipe material is the most common
form of pipeline deterioration and should be considered in both the
strength and serviceability analysis of pipes.
The study in this research focuses on concrete pipes in sewage
systems (concrete sewers). This research firstly investigates how to
involve the effect of corrosion as a time dependent process of
deterioration in the structural and failure analysis of this type of pipe.
Then three probabilistic time dependent reliability analysis methods
including the first passage probability theory, the gamma distributed
degradation model and the Monte Carlo simulation technique are
discussed and developed. Sensitivity analysis indexes which can be
used to identify the most important parameters that affect pipe failure
are also discussed.
The reliability analysis methods developed in this paper contribute
as rational tools for decision makers with regard to the strengthening
and rehabilitation of existing pipelines. The results can be used to
obtain a cost-effective strategy for the management of the sewer
system.
Abstract: Not all proteins have the same nutritional value, since
protein quality strongly depends on its amino acid composition and
digestibility. The meat of game animals could be a high protein
source because of its well-balanced essential amino acids
composition. Investigations about biochemical composition of game
meat such as wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus
capreolus) and beaver (Castor fiber) are not very much. Therefore,
the aim of the investigation was evaluate protein composition of
game meat hunted in Latvia. The biochemical analysis, evaluation of
connective tissue and essential amino acids in meat samples were
done, the amino acids score were calculate. Results of analysis
showed that protein content 20.88-22.05% of all types of meat
samples is not different statistically. The content of connective tissue
from 1.3% in roe deer till 1.5% in beaver meat allowed classified
game animal as high quality meat. The sum of essential amino acids
in game meat samples were determined 7.05–8.26g100g-1. Roe deer
meat has highest protein content and lowest content of connective
tissues among game meat hunted in Latvia. Concluded that amino
acid score for limiting amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine is high
and shows high biological value of game meat.
Abstract: Among other traditional and non-traditional
additives, polymers have shown an efficient performance in the field
and improved sustainability. Polyacrylamide (PAM) is one such
additive that has demonstrated many advantages including a
reduction in permeability, an increase in durability and the provision
of strength characteristics. However, information about its effect on
the improved geotechnical characteristics is very limited to the field
performance monitoring. Therefore, a laboratory investigation was
carried out to examine the basic and engineering behaviors of three
types of soils treated with a PAM additive. The results showed an
increase in dry density and unconfined compressive strength for all
the soils. The results further demonstrated an increase in unsoaked
CBR and a reduction in permeability for all stabilized samples.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to show how state plays a
regulatory role in the relations of distribution by analyzing tax and
expenditure in Turkey. This paper has two main arguments. First,
state intervenes in economic and social life via budget policies and
steers the relations of distribution within the scope of the
reproduction of the capital accumulation and legitimacy. Secondly, a
great amount of public expenditure benefits capital owners while
state gains its tax income mainly from low and middle income
groups.
Abstract: Device-to-device (D2D) communication is considered a
promising technique to provide wireless peer-to-peer communication
services. Due to increasing demand on mobile services, available
spectrum for radio frequency (RF) based communications becomes
scarce. Recently, visible light communications (VLC) has evolved
as a high speed wireless data transmission technology for indoor
environments with abundant available bandwidth. In this paper,
a novel VLC based D2D communication that provides wireless
peer-to-peer communication is proposed. Potential low operating
power devices for an efficient D2D communication over increasing
distance of separation between devices is analyzed. Optical repeaters
(OR) are also proposed to enhance the performance in an environment
where direct D2D communications yield degraded performance.
Simulation results show that VLC plays an important role in
providing efficient D2D communication up to a distance of 1 m
between devices. It is also found that the OR significantly improves
the coverage distance up to 3.5 m.
Abstract: In military aviation, the use of flight simulators has proliferated recently in order to train fifth generation fighter pilots. With these simulators, pilots can carry out real-time flights resulting in seeing their faults and can perform emergency drills prior to real flights. Since we cannot risk losing the aircraft and the pilot himself/herself in the flight training process, flight simulators are of great importance to adapt the fighter pilots competently to real flights aboard the fifth generation aircraft. The real flights are impossible to simulate thoroughly on the ground. To some extent, the fixed-based simulators may assist the pilot to steer aircraft technically and visually but flight simulators can’t trick the pilot’s vestibular, sensory, and perceptual systems without motion platforms. This paper discusses the benefits of motion simulators for fifth generation fighter pilots’ training in preference to the fixed-based counterparts by analyzing their pros and cons.
Abstract: Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) is used worldwide since 1998 to treat cartilage defect. GEL based ACI is a new tissue-engineering technique to treat full thickness cartilage defect with fibrin and thrombin as scaffold for chondrocytes. Purpose of this study is to see safety and efficacy of gel based ACI for knee cartilage defect in multiple centres with different surgeons. Gel-based Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (GACI) has shown effectiveness in treating isolated cartilage defect of knee joint. Long term results are still needed to be studied. This study was followed-up up to two years and showed benefit to patients. All enrolled patients with a mean age of 28.5 years had an average defect size of3 square centimeters, and were grade IV as per ICRS grading. All patients were followed up several times and at several intervals at 6th week, 8th week, 11th week, 17th week, 29th week, 57th week after surgery. The outcomes were measured based on the IKDC (subjective and objective) and MOCART scores.
Abstract: Debts reconstruction under some of moratorium
projects is one of important method that highly benefits to both the
Banks and farmers. The method can reduce probabilities for nonprofits
loan. This paper discuss about debts reconstruction and career
development training for farmers in Thailand between 2011 and
2013. The research designed is mix-method between quantitative
survey and qualitative survey. Sample size for quantitative method is
1003 cases. Data gathering procedure is between October and
December 2013. Main results affirmed that debts reconstruction is
needed. And there are numerous benefits from farmers’ career
development training. Many of farmers who attend field school
activities able to bring knowledge learned to apply for the farms’
work. They can reduce production costs. Framers’ quality of life and
their household well-being also improve. This program should apply
in any countries where farmers have highly debts and highly risks for
not return the debts.
Abstract: The recent instability in economy was found to be
influencing the situation in Malaysia whether directly or indirectly.
Taking that into consideration, the government needs to find the best
approach to balance its citizen’s socio-economic strata level urgently.
Through education platform is among the efforts planned and acted
upon for the purpose of balancing the effects of the influence,
through the exposure of social entrepreneurial activity towards youth
especially those in higher institution level. Armed with knowledge
and skills that they gained, with the support by entrepreneurial
culture and environment while in campus; indirectly, the students will
lean more on making social entrepreneurship as a career option when
they graduate. Following the issues of marketability and workability
of current graduates that are becoming dire, research involving how
far the willingness of student to create social innovation that
contribute to the society without focusing solely on personal gain is
relevant enough to be conducted. With that, this research is
conducted with the purpose of identifying the level of entrepreneurial
intention and social entrepreneurship among higher institution
students in Malaysia. Stratified random sampling involves 355
undergraduate students from five public universities had been made
as research respondents and data were collected through surveys. The
data was then analyzed descriptively using min score and standard
deviation. The study found that the entrepreneurial intention of higher
education students are on moderate level, however it is the contrary
for social entrepreneurship activities, where it was shown on a high
level. This means that while the students only have moderate level of
willingness to be a social entrepreneur, they are very committed to
created social innovation through the social entrepreneurship
activities conducted. The implication from this study can be
contributed towards the higher institution authorities in prediction the
tendency of student in becoming social entrepreneurs. Thus, the
opportunities and facilities for realizing the courses related to social
entrepreneurship must be created expansively so that the vision of
creating as many social entrepreneurs as possible can be achieved.
Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents
(MRI-CM) are significant in the clinical and biological imaging as
they have the ability to alter the normal tissue contrast, thereby
affecting the signal intensity to enhance the visibility and detectability
of images. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles,
coated with dextran or carboxydextran are currently available for
clinical MR imaging of the liver. Most SPIO contrast agents are
T2 shortening agents and Resovist (Ferucarbotran) is one of a
clinically tested, organ-specific, SPIO agent which has a low
molecular carboxydextran coating. The enhancement effect of
Resovist depends on its relaxivity which in turn depends on factors
like magnetic field strength, concentrations, nanoparticle properties,
pH and temperature. Therefore, this study was conducted to
investigate the impact of field strength and different contrast
concentrations on enhancement effects of Resovist. The study
explored the MRI signal intensity of Resovist in the physiological
range of plasma from T2-weighted spin echo sequence at three
magnetic field strengths: 0.47 T (r1=15, r2=101), 1.5 T (r1=7.4,
r2=95), and 3 T (r1=3.3, r2=160) and the range of contrast
concentrations by a mathematical simulation. Relaxivities of r1 and r2
(L mmol-1 Sec-1) were obtained from a previous study and the selected
concentrations were 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5,
0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mmol/L. T2-weighted images were
simulated using TR/TE ratio as 2000 ms /100 ms. According to the
reference literature, with increasing magnetic field strengths, the
r1 relaxivity tends to decrease while the r2 did not show any
systematic relationship with the selected field strengths. In parallel,
this study results revealed that the signal intensity of Resovist at lower
concentrations tends to increase than the higher concentrations. The
highest reported signal intensity was observed in the low field strength
of 0.47 T. The maximum signal intensities for 0.47 T, 1.5 T and 3 T
were found at the concentration levels of 0.05, 0.06 and 0.05 mmol/L,
respectively. Furthermore, it was revealed that, the concentrations
higher than the above, the signal intensity was decreased
exponentially. An inverse relationship can be found between the field
strength and T2 relaxation time, whereas, the field strength was
increased, T2 relaxation time was decreased accordingly. However,
resulted T2 relaxation time was not significantly different between
0.47 T and 1.5 T in this study. Moreover, a linear correlation of
transverse relaxation rates (1/T2, s–1) with the concentrations of
Resovist can be observed. According to these results, it can conclude
that the concentration of SPIO nanoparticle contrast agents and the
field strengths of MRI are two important parameters which can affect the signal intensity of T2-weighted SE sequence. Therefore, when MR
imaging those two parameters should be considered prudently.
Abstract: 21st century has transformed the labor market
landscape in a way of posing new and different demands on
university graduates as well as university lecturers, which means that
the knowledge and academic skills students acquire in the course of
their studies should be applicable and transferable from the higher
education context to their future professional careers. Given the
context of the Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) classroom, the
teachers’ objective is not only to teach the language itself, but also to
prepare students to use that language as a medium to develop generic
skills and competences. These include media and information
literacy, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving and analytical
skills, effective written and oral communication, as well as
collaborative work and social skills, all of which are necessary to
make university graduates more competitive in everyday professional
environments. On the other hand, due to limitations of time and large
numbers of students in classes, the frequently topic-centered syllabus
of LSP courses places considerable focus on acquiring the subject
matter and specialist vocabulary instead of sufficient development of
skills and competences required by students’ prospective employers.
This paper intends to explore some of those issues as viewed both by
LSP lecturers and by business professionals in their respective
surveys. The surveys were conducted among more than 50 LSP
lecturers at higher education institutions in Croatia, more than 40 HR
professionals and more than 60 university graduates with degrees in
economics and/or business working in management positions in
mainly large and medium-sized companies in Croatia. Various elements of LSP course content have been taken into
consideration in this research, including reading and listening
comprehension of specialist texts, acquisition of specialist vocabulary
and grammatical structures, as well as presentation and negotiation
skills. The ability to hold meetings, conduct business correspondence,
write reports, academic texts, case studies and take part in debates
were also taken into consideration, as well as informal business
communication, business etiquette and core courses delivered in a
foreign language. The results of the surveys conducted among LSP
lecturers will be analyzed with reference to what extent those
elements are included in their courses and how consistently and
thoroughly they are evaluated according to their course requirements.
Their opinions will be compared to the results of the surveys
conducted among professionals from a range of industries in Croatia
so as to examine how useful and important they perceive the same
elements of the LSP course content in their working environments.
Such comparative analysis will thus show to what extent the syllabi
of LSP courses meet the demands of the employment market when it
comes to the students’ language skills and competences, as well as
transferable skills. Finally, the findings will also be compared to the
observations based on practical teaching experience and the relevant
sources that have been used in this research. In conclusion, the ideas and observations in this paper are merely
open-ended questions that do not have conclusive answers, but might
prompt LSP lecturers to re-evaluate the content and objectives of
their course syllabi.
Abstract: The application of recycle waste tires into civil
engineering practices, namely asphalt paving mixtures and cementbased
materials has been gaining ground across the world. This
review summarizes and compares the recent achievements in the area
of plain rubberized concrete (PRC), in details. Different treatment
methods have been discussed to improve the performance of
rubberized Portland cement concrete. The review also includes the
effects of size and amount of tire rubbers on mechanical and
durability properties of PRC. The microstructure behaviour of the
rubberized concrete was detailed.
Abstract: Teaching methods include lectures, workshops and
tutorials for the presentation and discussion of ideas have become out
of date; were developed outside the discipline of architecture from
the college of engineering and do not satisfy the architectural
students’ needs and causes them many difficulties in integrating
structure into their design. In an attempt to improve structure
teaching methods, this paper focused upon proposing a supportive
teaching/learning tool using multi-media applications which seeks to
better meet the architecture student’s needs and capabilities and
improve the understanding and application of basic and intermediate
structural engineering and technology principles. Before introducing
the use of multi-media as a supportive teaching tool, a questionnaire
was distributed to third year students of a structural design course
who were selected as a sample to be surveyed forming a sample of 90
cases. The primary aim of the questionnaire was to identify the
students’ learning style and to investigate whether the selected
method of teaching could make the teaching and learning process
more efficient. Students’ reaction on the use of this method was
measured using three key elements indicating that this method is an
appropriate teaching method for the nature of the students and the
course as well.
Abstract: Green roof system is considered a relatively new
concept in Malaysia even though it has been implemented widely in
the developed countries. Generally, green roofs provide many
benefits such as enhancing aesthetical quality of the built
environment, reduce urban heat island effect, reduce energy
consumption, improve stormwater attenuation, and reduce noise
pollution. A better understanding on the implementation of green roof
system in Malaysia is crucial, as Malaysia’s climate is different if
compared with the climate in temperate countries where most of the
green roof studies have been conducted. This study has concentrated
on the technical aspect of green roof system which focuses on i) types
of plants and method of planting; ii) engineering design for green
roof system; iii) its hydrological performance on reducing stormwater
runoff; and iv) benefits of green roofs with respect to energy.
Literature review has been conducted to identify the development and
obstacles associated with green roofs systems in Malaysia. The study
had identified the challenges and potentials of green roofs
development in Malaysia. This study also provided the
recommendations on standard design and strategies on the
implementation of green roofs in Malaysia in the near future.
Abstract: Parental expectations often differ to that of their children and the influence and involvement of parents, at home, may affect the student performance in the classroom. This paper presents results from a survey of Asian and European background secondary school mathematics students (N=128) in Melbourne, Australia. Student responses to survey questions were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, followed by t-tests and ANOVA. The aim of the analysis was to identify similarities and differences in parental expectations in relation to ethnicity, gender, and the year level of the students. The notable findings from the analysis showed no significant difference (at 0.05 level) in parental expectations and student performance, in relation to ethnicity or gender. Conversely, there was a significant difference in both parental expectations and student performance between year 7 and year 12 students. Further, whilst there was a significant difference in parental expectations between year 7 and year 11 students, the students’ performances were not significantly different. The results suggest further research may be needed to understand the parental expectations and student performance between the lower and upper secondary school mathematics students.
Abstract: This paper aims to link together the concepts of job
satisfaction, work engagement, trust, job meaningfulness and loyalty
to the organisation focusing on specific type of employment –
academic jobs. The research investigates the relationships between
job satisfaction, work engagement and loyalty as well as the impact
of trust and job meaningfulness on the work engagement and loyalty.
The survey was conducted in one of the largest Latvian higher
education institutions and the sample was drawn from academic staff
(n=326). Structured questionnaire with 44 reflective type questions
was developed to measure the constructs. Data was analysed using
SPSS and Smart-PLS software. Variance based structural equation
modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to test the model and to
predict the most important factors relevant to employee engagement
and loyalty. The first order model included two endogenous
constructs (loyalty and intention to stay and recommend to work in
this organisation, and employee engagement), as well as six
exogenous constructs (feeling of fair treatment and trust in
management; career growth opportunities; compensation, pay and
benefits; management; colleagues and teamwork; and finally job
meaningfulness). Job satisfaction was developed as second order
construct and both: first and second order models were designed for
data analysis. It was found that academics are more engaged than
satisfied with their work and main reason for that was found to be job
meaningfulness, which is significant predictor for work engagement,
but not for job satisfaction. Compensation is not significantly related
to work engagement, but only to job satisfaction. Trust was not
significantly related neither to engagement, nor to satisfaction,
however, it appeared to be significant predictor of loyalty and
intentions to stay with the University. Paper revealed academic jobs
as specific kind of employment where employees can be more
engaged than satisfied and highlighted the specific role of job
meaningfulness in the University settings.
Abstract: Motion response of floating structures is of great
concern in marine engineering. Nonlinearity is an inherent property
of any floating bodies subjected to irregular waves. These floating
structures are continuously subjected to environmental loadings from
wave, current, wind etc. This can result in undesirable motions of the
vessel which may challenge the operability. For a floating body to
remain in its position, it should be able to induce a restoring force
when displaced. Mooring is provided to enable this restoring force.
This paper discusses the hydrodynamic performance and motion
characteristics of an 8 point spread mooring system applied to a pipe
laying barge operating in the West African sea. The modelling of the
barge is done using a computer aided-design (CAD) software
RHINOCEROS. Irregular waves are generated using a suitable wave
spectrum. Both frequency domain and time domain analysis is done.
Numerical simulations based on potential theory are carried out to
find the responses and hydrodynamic performance of the barge in
both free floating as well as moored conditions. Initially, potential
flow frequency domain analysis is done to obtain the Response
Amplitude Operator (RAO) which gives an idea about the structural
motion in free floating state. RAOs for different wave headings are
analyzed. In the following step, a time domain analysis is carried out
to obtain the responses of the structure in the moored condition. In
this study, wave induced motions are only taken into consideration.
Wind and current loads are ruled out and shall be included in further
studies. For the current study, 2000 seconds simulation is taken. The
results represent wave induced motion responses, mooring line
tensions and identify critical mooring lines.
Abstract: At the Savonia University of Applied Sciences (UAS),
curriculum and studies have been improved by applying an Open
Innovation Space approach (OIS). It is based on multidisciplinary
action learning. The key elements of OIS-ideology are work-life
orientation, and student-centric communal learning. In this approach,
every participant can learn from each other and innovations will be
created. In this social innovation educational approach, all practices
are carried out in close collaboration with enterprises in real-life
settings, not in classrooms. As an example, in this paper, Savonia
UAS’s Future Food RDI hub (FF) shows how OIS practices are
implemented by providing food product development and consumer
research services for enterprises in close collaboration with
academicians, students and consumers. In particular one example of
OIS experimentation in the field is provided by a consumer research
carried out utilizing verbal analysis protocol combined with audiovisual
observation (VAP-WAVO). In this case, all co-learners were
acting together in supermarket settings to collect the relevant data for
a product development and the marketing department of a company.
The company benefitted from the results obtained, students were
more satisfied with their studies, educators and academicians were
able to obtain good evidence for further collaboration as well as
renewing curriculum contents based on the requirements of working
life. In addition, society will benefit over time as young university
adults find careers more easily through their OIS related food science
studies. Also this knowledge interaction model re-news education
practices and brings working-life closer to educational research
institutes.
Abstract: Teaching of mathematics to engineering students is an
open ended problem in education. The main goal of mathematics
learning for engineering students is the ability of applying a wide
range of mathematical techniques and skills in their engineering
classes and later in their professional work. Most of the
undergraduate engineering students and faculties feels that no efforts
and attempts are made to demonstrate the applicability of various
topics of mathematics that are taught thus making mathematics
unavoidable for some engineering faculty and their students. The lack
of understanding of concepts in engineering mathematics may hinder
the understanding of other concepts or even subjects. However, for
most undergraduate engineering students, mathematics is one of the
most difficult courses in their field of study. Most of the engineering students never understood mathematics or
they never liked it because it was too abstract for them and they could
never relate to it. A right balance of application and concept based
teaching can only fulfill the objectives of teaching mathematics to
engineering students. It will surely improve and enhance their
problem solving and creative thinking skills. In this paper, some practical (informal) ways of making
mathematics-teaching application based for the engineering students
is discussed. An attempt is made to understand the present state of
teaching mathematics in engineering colleges. The weaknesses and
strengths of the current teaching approach are elaborated. Some of
the causes of unpopularity of mathematics subject are analyzed and a
few pragmatic suggestions have been made. Faculty in mathematics
courses should spend more time discussing the applications as well as
the conceptual underpinnings rather than focus solely on strategies
and techniques to solve problems. They should also introduce more
‘word’ problems as these problems are commonly encountered in
engineering courses. Overspecialization in engineering education
should not occur at the expense of (or by diluting) mathematics and
basic sciences. The role of engineering education is to provide the
fundamental (basic) knowledge and to teach the students simple
methodology of self-learning and self-development. All these issues
would be better addressed if mathematics and engineering faculty
join hands together to plan and design the learning experiences for
the students who take their classes. When faculties stop competing
against each other and start competing against the situation, they will
perform better. Without creating any administrative hassles these
suggestions can be used by any young inexperienced faculty of
mathematics to inspire engineering students to learn engineering
mathematics effectively.
Abstract: The out-of-band impedance environment is considered
to be of paramount importance in engineering the in-band impedance
environment. Presenting the frequency independent and constant outof-
band impedances across the wide modulation bandwidth is
extremely important for reliable device characterization for future
wireless systems. This paper presents an out-of-band impedance
optimization scheme based on simultaneous engineering of
significant baseband components IF1 (twice the modulation
frequency) and IF2 (four times the modulation frequency) and higher
baseband components such as IF3 (six times the modulation
frequency) and IF4 (eight times the modulation frequency) to
engineer the in-band impedance environment. The investigations
were carried out on a 10W GaN HEMT device driven to deliver a
peak envelope power of approximately 40.5dBm under modulated
excitation. The presentation of frequency independent baseband
impedances to all the significant baseband components whilst
maintaining the optimum termination for fundamental tones as well
as reactive termination for 2nd harmonic under class-J mode of
operation has outlined separate optimum impedances for best
intermodulation (IM) linearity.